Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof

Hbf intro|Stuttgart is the Hauptbahnhof of the city of Stuttgart in southwestern Germany.

Located near the city centre, the main line station is a terminus, whilst the subterranean S-Bahn and Stadtbahn stations are through stations. A plan to convert the main line station to a through station, called "Stuttgart 21", has been proposed in recent years and was officially approved in 2007. The station is well known for its 12-storey tower with a large, rotating and illuminated Mercedes-Benz star insignia on top.

History

The foundations of the modern station (which is the second "central station" to be built in Stuttgart - the first central station stood until 1866 in Bolzstrasse) were set in 1914. Following delays caused by the First World War the original plan to cover the main hall with a glass roof were abandoned. The station was officially opened on 21 October 1922 although construction work was not completed until December 1927. The architect was Paul Bonatz. [Structurae|id=s0024218|title=Stuttgart Central Station. Retrieved on 2007-07-20] All 17 platforms were converted to electric power in 1933.

During the Second World War the Hauptbahnhof was severely damaged a number of times by allied bombing.

The building's façade bears an illumination featuring a quotation from Stuttgart-born philosopher Hegel (only visible at night) "… daß diese Furcht zu irren schon der Irrtum selbst ist." [… whether this fear of error is not just the error itself.]

Redevelopment

Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is to be redeveloped to a design by Düsseldorf architect Ingenhoven Overdiek und Partner with Frei Otto and Buro Happold's German arm Happold Ingenieurbüro. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3575/is_1274_213/ai_100240969] [http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=4242] [http://www.ingenhovenarchitekten.de/flash/iup_pop.php] The station building redevelopment is part of a rail project called Stuttgart 21.On 19 July 2007, it was announced by the Federal Government, the State of Baden-Württemberg and Deutsche Bahn that the project had been officially approved, releasing € 2.8 billion for the project. Building work is expected to start in 2010. [http://www.swr.de/nachrichten/bw/-/id=1622/nid=1622/did=2387316/pyrcro/index.html "Einigung auf Finanzierung von Stuttgart 21"] , "SWR3 Radio news", 19 July 2007 de icon]

Operational usage

Stuttgart is a hub in the InterCityExpress and InterCity network, with long distance trains calling at the main line terminus. RegionalExpress and RegionalBahn services are offered as well. Starting June 2007, the new TGV POS runs between Stuttgart and Paris four times a day. The journey takes 3h 40m reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h. The Stuttgart S-Bahn station is situated under the station building whilst the local light rail network, the Stuttgart Stadtbahn has its station under the "Arnulf-Klett-Platz" in front of the station, to which it is linked by a passenger underpass.

Notes

References

*de|Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof